Glossary of Coin Collecting Terms
– A –
about good
(See AG3.)
abrasion
Marks or small scratches on the surface of a coin where another coin or object has slid across or bumped the coin. Sometimes the terms “scuffing,””light rubbing,” or “hairlines” are also used to indicate light abrasive wear.
accumulation
A miscellaneous coin grouping that typically represents hoarding rather than serious collecting.
actual gold weight
The amount of pure gold content contained in a given coin.
AD
Abbreviation of acid date.
adjustment marks
Marks caused by filing a planchet before striking to reduce its weight to the standard. This was an occasional practice in minting early U.S. coinage.
AG
ANA grading standard meaning Almost Good.
AG3 AG
ANA grading standard meaning Almost Good level 3 to Almost Good.
AGW
(See actual gold weight.)
airtite holder
A popular brand of plastic round-shaped holders for coins. They snap together and are often used to display, protect and store individual coins.
album
A book-like holder with slots for storing coins.
album friction
(See slider.)
album slide marks
(See slider.)
alloy
A mixture of two or more metals.
altered
Deliberately changing a coin or note, usually with the intent of increasing its face value or numismatic value.
American eagle
Silver, gold and platinum gold coins released by the U.S. government starting in October 1986. The front depicts Liberty walking and the reverse side bears an American eagle and nest design.
ANA
An acronym for the American Numismatic Association.
ANACS
(American Numismatic Association Certification Service) Originally, only authentication was offered; grading was added later. The grading service and acronym were sold by the ANA and now operate under this name as a third-party grading service.
ANACS Certificate
A uniquely numbered opinion of authenticity and/or grade from the ANA Certification Service.
ancients
General term for coins of the world struck circa 600 B.C. to circa 450 A.D.
annealing
The heating of a die or planchet to soften the metal before preparation of the die or striking of the coin.
anvil die
The lower die, usually the reverse—although on some issues with striking problems, the obverse was employed as the lower die. Because of the physics of minting, the fixed lower-die impression is slightly better struck than the upper-die impression.
arrows
Design element usually found in the left (viewer’s right) claw of the eagle seen on many United States coins.
arrows and rays
Term referring to the quarters and half dollars of 1853. The rays were later removed because the complicated design made striking the coins difficult.
arrows at date
Term referring to the arrows to the left and right of the date, added to the dies to indicate a weight increase or decrease.
artificial toning
Coloration added to a coin by treatment with chemicals or other “doctoring.”
ask
The selling quotation of a coin either on a trading network, pricing newsletter, or other medium.
assay
The process of determining a coin’s alloy purity.
attributes
The elements that make up a coin’s grade. The main ones are marks (hairlines for proofs), luster, strike, and eye appeal.
au
Shorthand for almost uncirculated.
auction
An offering of coins for sale where the buyer must bid against other potential buyers, as opposed to ordering from a catalog, price list, or advertisement at a set price.
authentic (coin)
An original, non-counterfeit coin.
authentication
The process of determining the genuineness of a coin or other numismatic item.
– B –
bag mark
A surface mark, usually in the form of a nick, acquired by a coin when it came into contact with others in a mint bag. Bag marks are most common on large and heavy silver and gold coins (also known as contact marks or keg marks).
bag toning
Coloring that a coin acquires from the chemicals of the bag in which it has been stored. Depending upon the chemical exposure and proximity to the material, coloring may be blue, red, yellow or other colors.
bank note
Paper money issued by a bank.
bank-wrapped rolls
Rolls of coins that are enclosed in the original wrapping performed by a Federal Reserve Bank. Being intact and untouched makes such rolls more collectible.
bar
A non-numismatic form of precious metal bullion.
barber
Nickname for U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars designed by Charles E. Barber. They depict a “liberty head” on the front and an eagle with a shield on the reverse.
barber coinage
(See barber.)
bas relief
Design elements are raised within depressions in the field.
basal state
Refers to coins that can be identified only by type and minting date.
basining
Refers to polishing a die to either give it a mirrored surface or to merely remove clash marks.
beads or beading
Round bead-like decorations on the surface of a coin.
BG gold
Certain type of fractional value gold coins referenced in a work published by Breen-Gillio.
bid
The price a dealer is offering to pay for a coin. Sometimes used to indicate a standing offer at that price from a coin dealer or on a trading network.
billon
An alloy of silver and another metal, usually copper, which is less than 50% silver.
bit
Pieces of eight were physically cut into eighths; each piece is one bit.
black and white cameo
(See deep cameo.)
blank
A blank piece of metal on which a coin design can be stamped. It is usually already cut into the shape of a coin, round, flat and plain, without any design.
blemishes
Minor nicks, marks, flaws, or spots of discoloration that mar the surface of a coin.
blended
When one coin feature, due to wear, runs, or fades into another, such as a date that wears down until it is even with the coin’s background.
blue book
Refers to a collector’s annual price guide called the Handbook of United States Coins (which has a blue cover).
blue sheet
Nickname for the Certified Coin Dealer newsletter, which is printed on bluish paper. The blue sheet lists various U.S. coins and bid/ask dealer prices for certified coins.
BM
Short for Branch Mint, referring to U.S. Mint (except Philadelphia).
BN
Short for brown.
body bag
Identifies a coin that was returned by a coin grading/certification in a poly bag because of some problem with the coin.
borderline
A coin that falls on the edge between two grades.
bourse
A location where dealers buy and sell coins with each other and the public, such as at a coin show.
braided hair
Coins with figureheads sporting pulled-back and braided hair.
breast feathers
Central feathers found on various eagle coin designs.
Breen Book
Nickname for the definitive coin referenceComplete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins.
brilliant
Any coin containing a high, lustrous finish.
brilliant uncirculated
A high-quality, mint-condition coin that has never been distributed for public use.
broadstrike/broadstruck
A coin struck without a firmly seated collar, resulting in “spreading” outwards, but still showing all design details.
brockage
A mirror image of the design from one side of a coin impressed on the opposite side—occasionally, a newly struck coin “sticks” to a die, causing the next coin struck to have a First Strike Mirror Brockage of the coin stuck to the die; by the second strike the mirror is distorted, and later strikes are termed Struck Through A Capped Die.
bronze
An alloy of copper, zinc and tin.
brown spotting
Brown or rust-colored spots appearing on the surface of a coin.
BU
(See brilliant uncirculated.)
buckled die
A coin die that, due to long use, has warped.
buffalo nickel
Nickname for the Indian Head nickel that featured a bison.
bulged die
A coin die that, due to long use, has developed an indentation.
bullion
Uncoined precious metal in the form of bars, plates, ingots, etc.; also a reference used to designate the precious metal content of a coin.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
An agency of the U.S. Treasury Department responsible for production of currency.
burnished blank
Treatment of a coin blank or die to give it a slightly sandy or polished look. Sometimes burnishing is done with chemicals or by special polishing.
burnishing
Polishing or rubbing the surface of a coin or coin blank to make it shiny. Burnishing of a minted coin is often considered detrimental and should be mentioned in any coin description.
burnt
Any coin with features diminished by too much dipping (in cleaning/polish solutions).
business strike
A coin struck for circulation.
bust
The head, including at least a portion of the collar bone.
bust dollars
Nickname for silver dollars minted from 1795 through 1803.
– C –
cam
(See cameo.)
cameo
A coin, usually struck as a proof, with a frosted or satiny central device surrounded by a mirrorlike field.
Canadian
Post-confederation Canadian numismatics.
capped die
A coin with a very deep cap caused by its being stuck in a printing press and struck several times.
carbon spot
Brown or black spots usually found on copper and gold coins. The spotting is caused by oxidation and, if severe, prevents a coin from being graded.
Carson City Mint
This Nevada mint operated only from 1870-1893 (but was suspended from 1885-89). The mint was closed permanently because of employee thefts.
cartwheel
The pattern of light reflected by flow lines of mint state coins, resembling spokes of a wheel; name given to the British pennies and two pieces of 1797 due to their unusually broad rims.
cast blanks
Coin blanks created using molds rather than punching out of metal strips.
cast counterfeit
Duplicating a coin using molds of both sides of a genuine coin and then making a cast using a base metal.
CC mintmark
Appears on gold and silver coins struck at the Carson City, Nevada, Mint.
CCD
Certified Coin Dealer.
CCDN
Certified Coin Dealer Newsletter.
cent
One-hundredth of a dollar in standard currency. This is commonly called a penny except by the U.S. Mint.
certified coin
A coin authenticated and graded by a professional service.
ch
Shorthand for choice.
chasing
A metal heating method used by forgers to add a mint mark to a coin.
cherrypick
To find and purchase a coin worth a premium over the seller’s asking price (generally a rare die variety priced appropriately for a more common variety).
choice
An adjective used to describe an especially select specimen of a given grade. For example, Choice AU-55 represents an especially select About Uncirculated coin (typical About Uncirculated being AU-50).
chop mark
A symbol added to money by someone other than the government that issued it to indicate authenticity.
circ
Shorthand for circulated.
circulated
Denotes money that is no longer in mint state, generally as a result of normal handling and exchange.
circulation strike
(See business strike.)
Civil War tokens
Private issue pieces usually made to the approximate size of the U.S. cent. These were circulated during the Civil War and were made because of a scarcity of small change.
clad
(See sandwich coin.)
clash mark(s)
Outlines and/or traces of designs from the opposite side of a coin resulting from die clash.
classic era
Refers to silver and gold U.S. coins minted between 1792 and 1933 (gold) or 1964 (silver).
classic head
Coins with a Miss Liberty design featuring the look of a Greek or Roman athlete (including hair held by a ribbon).
cleaned coin
While any coin subjected to a cleaning process could technically be considered cleaned, this term most commonly refers to those that have been abrasively cleaned. This type of coin generally has a lower numismatic value than an otherwise comparable uncleaned specimen.
cleaning
Any process that removes foreign substances, corrosion, or toning, e.g., application of solvents, dipping, and rubbing with abrasive materials or substances.
clip
A coin, planchet or blank missing a portion of metal from its periphery, caused by an error during blank production; types of clips include curved (most common), ragged, straight, elliptical, bowtie, disk, and assay.
clipping
Deliberate smearing or shaving from the edge of gold and silver coins; patterns and mottoes are included on edges to discourage the practice.
clnd
Shorthand for cleaned.
clogged die
A die that contains a contaminant (commonly grease) in its recessed areas. Coins struck by clogged dies either have diminished or missing features.
coin
A piece of metal with a distinctive stamp and of a fixed value and weight issued by a government and used as money (source: Webster’s New World Dictionary).
coin friction
An abraded area of a coin caused by storage in a bag or coin sleeve.
coin set
A grouping of coins that share a common, dominating trait such as year of issue, place of issue, denomination, etc.
coin show
An event where numismatic items are bought, sold, traded, and often exhibited.
Coin Universe Daily Price Guide
A guide that provides selling pricing information on most U.S. coins for multiple coin grade levels.
collar
A device present in a coining press to restrict the outward flow of metal during striking and to put the design, if any, on the edge of the coin.
collection
The numismatic holdings of an individual in total or of a particular type.
colonial
A coin issued by any colony; frequently refers to those produced by European colonies in the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries.
commemorative
A coin with a design commemorating a person, place, or event.
common
Subjective term referring to any coin that is readily available.
condition census
A list of the finest specimens of a particular value of coin.
conjoined
(See jugate.)
consensus grading
A coin grading determined by review by several graders.
contact marks
Small surface scratches resulting from movement of coins in the same bag or bin.
contemporary counterfeit
An imitation coin created from base metals, made at the same time the genuine coins were made. Due to age, they are often collectible too.
copper coin
A coin containing over 95% pure copper. Lower grade alloys are usually termed bronze or brass.
copper nickel cents
Cent coins struck from 1859 through 1864, made of a copper/nickel alloy which appeared significantly paler than regular copper coins.
copper spot
A stain (varies in size) on gold coins caused by oxidation of a concentration of copper.
corr
Shorthand for corroded.
corrosion
(See environmental damage.)
counterfeit
An imitation coin or note made to circulate as if it actually were money.
counterstamp
A design, group of letters, or other mark stamped on a coin for special identification or advertising purposes. Counterstamped coins are graded the way regular (uncounterstamped) coins are, but the nature and condition of the counterstamp must also be described.
crackout
Coin that is cracked out of its plastic holder. Usually refers to a coin removed from a grading service holder.
crown
A general term embracing most silver coins from about 20 to 30 grams in weight and from about 33 to 50 millimeters in size. The term now applies to nickel alloy coins of similar weight and size.
cud
A raised lump of metal on a coin caused by a piece of a die having broken off.
cull A coin that is less desirable compared to other coins in a roll, tube, or group. The term is sometimes used to mean a very slick, worn, or defective coin.
cupro-nickel (or copper-nickel)
Composed of an alloy of copper and nickel, as, for example, U.S. 5-cent coins (other than half dimes) and Canadian 5-cent coins produced since 1982.
currency
Paper money.
current
Coins and paper money still in circulation.
– D –
D
Mintmark indicating coin was struck in Dahlonega, Georgia (1838-1861), or from Denver, Colorado (1906 to present).
damage
Physical change to a numismatic item, such as a scratch, nick, ding, cleaning, hole or pitting.
date
The year(s) shown on a coin, usually the same as the year it was minted.
dcam
Shorthand for deep cameo.
DDO or D.D.O
Doubled Die Obverse, an obverse die that exhibits doubled images in one or more places.
DDR or D.D.R.
Doubled Die Reverse, a reverse die that exhibits doubled images in one or more places.
dealer
A person or company that regularly buys and sells numismatic collectibles.
deep cameo
Coins with deeply frosted devices/lettering that creates a high level of contrast with other coin features.
deep mirror prooflike
Having highly reflective fields, similar to a coin struck as a proof.
delamination
Metal missing or retained but peeling from the surface due to incomplete bonding or impurities in the planchet.
denarius
An ancient Roman silver coin weighing about 3 grams, roughly the same diameter as a U.S. dime but thicker.
denomination
The face value of a coin.
denticles
Tooth-like raised features just inside the rim of some coins (also known as dentils).
design
The devices, lettering, etc., appearing on a coin and their arrangement in relation to one another.
designer
The creator of a coin design.
device
The principal element, such as a portrait, shield or heraldic emblem, of the design on the obverse or reverse of a coin, token or medal.
die
A usually cylindrical piece of steel bearing at one end the incuse design of one side of a coin (except for coins with incuse detail, where the die designs are in relief).
die chip
A small fragment broken off from a die; metal flowing into the resulting hole during striking results in a small raised lump on the surface of the coin.
die clash
Upper and lower dies coming together in a coin press without a planchet between them; design details may be partially impressed in the opposite dies and subsequently as mirror images on coins struck from the clashed dies.
die crack
A narrow fissure in the surface of a die; coins struck with such a die have a narrow raised line corresponding to the crack.
die erosion
Wear on a die from use in the minting process.
die flow lines
(See flow lines.)
die polish
Small raised lines in the field of a coin resulting from polishing of a die to remove chips, clash marks, etc.
die state
The condition of a die at a particular point in its life.
die striations
Lines on coins created by being struck by a recently polished die.
dipping
Cleaning by immersion in a liquid capable of removing molecules from the surface, such as a solution containing thiourea.
disme
The early spelling of the word “dime,” one tenth of a dollar.
dmg
Shorthand for damaged.
DMPL
(See deep mirror prooflike.)
doctored
Usually a pejorative reference for a numismatic item that has been artificially (fraudulently) enhanced.
double denomination
A very rare error in which a normally struck coin is restruck by another denomination die pair.
double die
A dubious term sometimes intended to mean a doubled die coin and sometimes indicating machine doubling. (Because there is often a substantial difference in value between the two, a savvy buyer will be sure to determine which case is true for any coin described as such.).
doubled die
A die with doubled device details, letters, and/or numerals resulting from any of several possible differences between the multiple hub impressions during its manufacture; a coin struck from such a die.
double eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $20, first minted in 1849 and last officially minted in 1932.
DPG
Shorthand term for the Coin Universe Daily Price Guide.
drachma
An ancient Greek silver coin weighing about 3 grams, roughly the diameter as a U.S. dime, but thicker.
drift mark
An elongated streak of discoloration on a coin that is caused by impurities in the die used in its striking.
dull
Any coin lacking luster (shininess).
– E –
eagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $10, first minted in 1795 and last minted in 1933; also, the current $50 face value gold bullion coin.
ED
(See environmental damage.)
edge
The area that borders a coin’s surface. Also referred to as a coin’s “third side.” Edges of U.S. coins may be reeded, lettered, or plain.
edge lettering
Lettering or symbols used on a coin’s edges. When used, it is typically for a special, commemorative issue.
EF
(See extremely fine.)
e-gold
An electronic way of purchasing, owning, and storing gold.
Eisenhower dollar
Clad nickel-copper dollars with bust of President Eisenhower made from 1971 through 1978.
electrotype
A counterfeit coin made by the electroplating process.
encapsulated
Describes a coin that an independent grading service has sealed with a plastic envelope.
engraver
A person who cuts a design into a coinage die.
environmental damage
Corrosion, such as a pitted surface or toning that is caused by a coin’s being exposed to the elements.
E PluribusUnum
“Out of many, one”; the motto on many U.S. coins.
error, error coin
A coin, token, medal, or paper money item evidencing a mistake made in its manufacture.
exergue
The lower part of a coin or medal, usually divided from the field by a line and often containing the date, mintmark, or engraver’s initial(s).
exonumia
Tokens, medals, and other non-monetary coin-like objects.
exonumist
Collector whose interests encompass numismatic items outside those issued for official government monetary purposes.
extremely fine
An ANA grading standard for coins that are well above standard condition.
eyeappeal
Subjective term referring to a coin’s overall attractiveness or appearance.
– F –
F
(See fine.)
facevalue
The ordinary monetary worth of a coin or note at the time of issue.
fake
(See counterfeit.)
fantasy piece
Refers to coins that are whimsically struck by the officials of a Mint.
fasces
Refers to the design element of an ax surrounded by a bundle of rods which was a symbol of Roman authority.
fiatmoney
Money that is not backed by inherent metal value and is legal tender by government decree.
field
The flat background on a coin, medal or token.
filler
A coin a collector uses to “fill” a part of a set until a higher grade/quality coin can be acquired.
fine
ANA grading standard.
fine gold
Refers to a gold coin with a purity level of 99.9%.
fine silver
Refers to a silver coin with a purity level of 99.9%.
finest known
A coin in the best condition that is known to exist for that given coin.
first spouses
Gold coins issued by the United States Government Mint beginning in 2007. Four gold coins are produced each year depicting the First Ladies of the presidents of the United States.
fishscale
Canadian 5-cent silver; U.S. 3-cent silver coin.
flan
British term for a planchet.
flip
A soft plastic holder normally used for a single coin.
floral edge
A coin edge design consisting of flowers (typically tulips).
flowlines
Microscopic lines in the surface of a coin resulting from the outward flow of metal during striking.
foreign
Any numismatic piece originating outside of the United States.
FR
ANA grading standard meaning Fair.
FR1PR
ANA grading standard meaning Fair level 1 to poor condition.
FR2FR
ANA grading standard meaning Fair level 2 to fair condition.
fractionalcoin
A coin, the face value of which is a fractional unit of the denominated currency, generally minted of silver.
fractionalcurrency
Paper money with a face value of less than one dollar.
Franklin half dollars
Popular 50-cent coins that feature Benjamin Franklin on one side and the Liberty Bell on the reverse side. These coins were minted between 1948-1963.
friction
(See coin friction.)
frost
Sandblasting or acid-treating a die so that, when coins are struck, their raised areas will have a crystallized “frosty” appearance.
fugiocent
The first coin issued by authority of the United States, produced by contractors in 1787.
– G –
G
ANA grading standard meaning Good.
G04G
ANA grading standard meaning Good Level 4 to Good.
G06G+
ANA grading standard meaning Good Level 6 to Good Plus.
galvano
An epoxy-coated plaster relief model of a coin, token or medal created by electrodeposition (much larger than the dies later created from it).
gem
Refers to mint, near mint and other coins in superb condition.
gem bu
Refers to mint, near mint and other uncirculated coins in superb condition.
genuine
Valid coin minted by the proper minting authority, not counterfeit.
godzilla
An outstanding coin. This term is often used to describe a coin of exceptional quality and appearance.
goloid
An alloy of copper, gold and silver. This combination failed to be accepted because its use would create a large incentive for counterfeiting.
grade/grading
One of several terms summarizing the overall condition of a coin or other numismatic item; the process of evaluation leading to assignment of a grade.
grading standards, ANA
A set of abbreviations indicating the coin condition standards devised by the American Numismatic Association.
granular
Any coin surface that is visibly (or under slight magnification) porous. Caused by a variety of factors, such as exposure to moisture, oxidation of the metal, or chemical reactions.
Greysheet
The Coin Dealer Newsletter, a price guide for U.S. coins intended for dealer-to-dealer sight seen transactions.
– H –
hairlines
Light scratches in the surface of a coin.
halfcent
A U.S. coin with a face value of 1/200th of a dollar, first minted in 1793 and last minted in 1857.
halfdime
A U.S. coin with a face value of 5 cents issued with dates between 1794 and 1873; originally called a half disme.
halfeagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $5, first minted in 1795 and last minted in 1929.
hamburger coin
Slang term for any clad coin.
hammer die
The hammer die is the top die that is placed on top of the coin blank and struck. This was done with a hammer years ago.
hammered coins
Coins minted by hammering the dies together. A coin blank was inserted between two coin dies and struck with a hammer-like tool. This minting method (hammering coins) was in use for centuries until the coin press was invented in the 1700s.
hardtimestoken
An unofficial large cent-size copper struck in a wide variety of types during 1833-1844, serving as de facto currency and bearing a politically inspired legend, or with advertising, as a store card.
head
(See obverse.)
hobonickel
A coin (usually a U.S. Buffalo nickel) physically altered to produce a substantially different image or to which another image has been added.
holder
Any device designed for storage and sometimes display of numismatic items.
holed
Having a hole drilled through it, usually as a result of being used for jewelry.
hub or hob
A metal object with the intended coin design in relief on one end as it would appear on the finished coin. It is used to produce dies.
– I –
Ikes
(See Eisenhower dollar.)
impairedproof
A proof coin with wear or damage resulting from circulation or other handling.
incuse
The opposite of relief—design elements are impressed into the surface.
ingot
(See bar.)
intrinsic
As applied to value, the net metallic value as distinguished from face value.
inverted date
A coin error where the date is punched into a coin die backwards or upside down.
investor
A person who buys numismatic items strictly for profit rather than for aesthetic reasons.
iridescence
Refers to a coin that has a pastel-colored glow.
iron dollar
Old, regional slang term for U.S. silver dollars which referred to their weight compared to paper currency.
– J –
Jefferson nickel
Nickel still in use today. Designed by Felix Schlag and has been in continuous use since 1938.
jugate
Overlapping portraits on a coin which face the same direction.
junk silver
Silver coins of circulated quality. This term is often used to describe bags of common U.S. silver coins that were pulled out of circulation when silver coinage was disappearing. It does not mean the coins are damaged.
– K –
keelboat
U.S. five-cent nickel issued in 2004 featuring a picture of the keelboat that Lewis and Clark used on their expedition. Lewis and Clark can be seen in full uniform in the bow of the keelboat.
Kennedy half
50-cent coins originally minted in 1964 that feature President John. F. Kennedy.
key coin
The most important coin in a particular series, it is also usually the most expensive as well as the lowest denomination in a set.
keydate
The rarest (or one of the most rare) and therefore most expensive members of a coin series, e.g., the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or 1916-D Mercury dime.
knife edge
(See wire edge.)
Krause
A numismatic publishing company (Krause Publications); this company’s Standard Catalog of World Coins is a collector’s standard reference.
– L –
lamination flaw
(See delamination.)
largecent
A U.S. coin with a value of 1 cent, minted from 1793 to 1857, composed primarily of copper and larger in diameter than the current U.S. quarter.
laureate
Refers to any figure on a coin that bears a crown of laurel leaves.
legaltender
Money that may be legally offered in payment of an obligation and that a creditor must accept (source: Webster’s New World Dictionary).
legend
Lettering on a coin other than the denomination or nation that issued it.
letterededge
A patriotic legend or a denomination statement that appears on the edge of a coin. This design feature appears on only a few U.S. coins.
lib
Short for liberty head.
liberty bell halves
(See Franklin half dollars.)
liberty head silver dollar
U.S. silver dollars minted between 1878 through 1921. Designed with a liberty bust by engraver George Morgan.
lint mark
A repeated, threadlike depression that appears on a coin’s surface.
logo punch
Metal coin punch that is usually a number. It was used by mint employees to punch numbers (the year of issue) into coin dies.
loonie
Popular name for the Canadian dollar coin.
lot
A unique number an auction house assigns to item(s) to be sold in a particular sale.
loupe
A type of magnifying glass used by numismatists and jewelers.
lt
Shorthand for light.
luster
The brilliance of a coin, resulting from reflection of light off die flow lines.
– M –
machine doubling
Doubling of details resulting from loose dies during striking (generally considered to have no numismatic value).
mailbid
An auction format in which bids are submitted by mail; the highest offer for each lot received by the closing date wins the lot (several other rules usually apply).
matteproof
A proof coin with a granular (rather than mirrorlike) surface produced by dies treated to obtain a minutely etched surface.
medal
A coin-like object struck to honor one or more persons or events depicted or mentioned in its design; an object awarded to persons in recognition of service or other accomplishments.
medievalcoin
A coin struck from about 500 to 1500 A.D.
melt/melt value
The worth of precious metal in a coin, determined by multiplying the amount of the metal it contains by the spot price of the metal.
mercury dime
Ten-cent coins minted between 1916 and 1945 with a design feature thought to resemble the Roman god, Mercury.
metal stress lines
(See flow lines.)
milky
Describes the whitish area that is sometimes found on silver coins. The appearance is that of a milk color stain.
milled coin
By contrast with a hammered coin, a piece produced by pressure indirectly rather than directly applied, and the edge of which has been rolled or upset.
millededge
A raised rim around the outer surface of a coin. Not to be confused with the reeded or serrated narrow edge of the coin.
minorcoin
A silver coin of less than crown weight or any coin struck in base metal.
mint
A facility for manufacturing coins.
mintage
The quantity of a denomination of coins produced at a mint during a period of time (usually one year).
mintbloom
The original surface of a newly minted coin.
mintmark
A small letter or symbol designating the mint that produced the item bearing it.
mintset
A specially packaged group of uncirculated coins from one or more mints of the same nation containing at least one coin for most or all of the denominations issued during a particular year.
mintstate
In the same condition as when delivered from the mint (natural toning excepted); uncirculated.
misplaceddate
One or more digits of a date punched away from the designated location, such as in the denticles or in the central design.
moderncoin
A coin struck after about 1500 A.D.
money
A medium of exchange.
morgan dollar
(See liberty head silver dollar.)
mottled toning
Uneven, drab and splotchy areas appearing on a coin.
motto
A phrase imprinted on a coin; for most U.S. coins “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
MS
(See mint state.)
mule
A coin struck from obverse and reverse dies not originally intended to be used together.
multiplestrike
A coin struck more than once as a result of not being properly ejected from the coining press.
mylar®
A brand name for a clear trademarked polyester material used to store coins.
– N –
national parks quarters
Quarters featuring a U.S. national park design on the reverse side.
natural toning
Coloration resulting from chemical change on the surface during normal exposure over a prolonged period.
NCLT
An abbreviation designating official government issue; “Non-Circulating, Legal Tender” coins, generally struck of silver or gold in denominations not intended to circulate commercially.
net price
A term signifying that the seller is unwilling to sell for less than the price marked.
new
A mint condition coin that has never been in circulation.
nickel
A U.S. five-cent coin consisting of a 75% copper, 25% nickel alloy.
numismatic news
A popular, weekly U.S. coin publication.
numismatics
The collection and study of coins, tokens, medals, paper money and other objects exchanged for goods and services or manufactured by similar methods.
numismatist
A person who collects and/or studies numismatic items.
– O –
obol
A small silver coin of ancient Greece, originally a day’s wages for a rower on a galley or a citizen on jury duty.
obsolete
A coin design or coin series that is no longer being produced.
obv
Shorthand for obverse.
obverse
The side of a numismatic item that bears the principal device. With a few exceptions, the obverse is the date side of regular-issue U.S. coinage (i.e., the “heads” side).
OBW
Means original bank-wrapped.
(See bank-wrapped rolls.)
oddity
When something unusual happens to a coin it is sometimes called an oddity. This can be an error that was made at the mint or something that happened to a coin after it was minted.
offcenter
Incorrectly centered during striking, resulting in part of the design being missing (off the edge).
original/originaltoning
Natural surfaces resulting from long exposure to ordinary environmental conditions; uncleaned.
original roll
Coins still in the paper wrapping originally used for shipment after being minted.
overdate
A coin struck from a die with at least one digit of the date repunched over a different digit, e.g., 1809/6 or 1942/1.
overdipped
A coin that has been dulled by excessive bathing in a dipping solution.
overgraded
Designated with a higher grade than merited.
overmintmark
One mintmark on top of a different mintmark, such as a “D” over an “S” (denoted D/S).
oxidation
The formulation of oxides or tarnish on the surface of a coin from exposure to air, dampness, industrial fumes, or other elements.
– P –
paper money
Paper notes with standardized characteristics issued as money.
paranumismatica
British term for exonumia.
parks quarters
(See national parks quarters.)
patina
A green or brown surface film found on ancient copper and bronze coins caused by oxidation over a long period of time.
pattern
A coin struck as a test piece for a new design, sometimes without a date.
PCGS
Short for professional coin grading service.
peace dollar
U.S. silver dollars minted from 1921-35 that included “peace” on the coins’ reverse.
penny
Copper coin used by a number of countries and usually equal to one-hundredth of some larger denomination.
pennyweight
A penny weight is a means of weighing precious metals. It comes from the British weight system.
peripheral toning
Any level of even coloration that appears around a coin’s edge.
pf, pr or prf
Shorthand for proof.
pick up point
An area where a feature, such as die doubling, is most evident.
piece of eight
A former Spanish coin with a face value of eight reales; the U.S. dollar was originally valued at and tied to eight reales.
piedfort
Refers to French coins that were twice as thick as normal because their value was double that of their regular counterparts.
pioneer gold
Gold coins struck prior to 1861 by private individuals.
pitted
Having a rough surface due to loss of metal by corrosion.
pl
(See prooflike.)
plainedge
A design characteristic of all U.S. small cents and nickels, half-cents, and large cents minted after 1795, two-cent and three-cent pieces, and the silver 20-cents coin.
planchet
The disc of metal or other material on which the dies of a coin, token or medal are impressed (struck).
plugged
Denotes that a holed coin has been filled.
porous
Having a granular surface as the result of oxidation, most frequently found with older copper coins.
PQ
Premium quality.
PR
ANA grading standard meaning Poor.
prestigeset
A set of coins produced by the U.S. Mint, containing one of more proof commemorative coins released in the same year—as well as a proof cent, nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar.
problemcoin
Any coin that has been cleaned or damaged or has other undesirable characteristics.
proof
A coin specially manufactured to have extra sharp detail, mirrorlike fields, and sometimes frosted or “cameo” devices, produced for sale to collectors at a premium or for presentation or exhibition.
prooflike
Having mirrorlike fields, similar to a coin struck as a proof.
proofset
A specially packaged group of coins containing at least one of, most or all of the denominations of proof coins struck by a nation in a particular year.
– Q –
quarter
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of 25cents.
quartereagle
A U.S. gold coin with a face value of $2.50, first minted in 1796 and last minted in 1929.
questionable toning
Refers to a coin with coloring that can’t be determined to be original.
– R –
racketeer nickel
Refers to nickels made in 1883 without lettering that identified their value being 5cents. Crooks plated these nickels and passed them off as $5gold pieces.
radiate
Refers to a figure on a coin that has a pointed or spiked crown that radiates upward or outward.
rarity
An infrequentIy encountered or available item; the number of surviving specimens of a particular issue, as may be indicated by a rarity scale index.
rarityscale
A convention for designating the rarity of a coin, such as Sheldon’s system (with values such as R1 for common pieces and R6 for extremely rare specimens) and the Universal Rarity Scale invented by Alan Herbert (with designations such as URS3).
raw
Coin collector slang for a numismatic item that a grading service has not graded and that is sealed in an envelope.
real or reale
A former basic monetary unit of Spain and the Spanish colonies in the Americas.
recut date
(See repunched date.)
RedBook
The Handbook of U.S. Coins, a retail price guide for U.S. coins published annually, originally written by R.S. Yeoman.
reedededge
An edge with raised parallel lines, a.k.a. milled or grained.
relief
Features rising above the field.
repaired
Any coin or currency that has had one or more defects corrected. Information about such work should always be included with such coins or currency because it affects value.
replica
An authorized coin copy or facsimile. Usually it is different in size or includes wording such as “copy” in order to eliminate its being represented as an original.
repuncheddate
A date with one or more of the digits punched more than once in different locations and/or orientations.
repunchedmintmark(RPM)
A mintmark punched more than once in different locations and/or orientations.
restrike
A coin struck with authentic dies later than the date it bears.
rev
Shorthand for reverse.
reverse
The side of a numismatic item opposite to that on which the principal device is impressed.
rim
The outer edge of a coin, often raised to avoid premature wear.
roll
Coins of the same denomination contained in a paper or plastic wrapper.
roller marks
Coins with, usually parallel, incuse lines.
round
A disc shaped piece of precious metal bullion.
rust spot
(See copper spot.)
– S –
Sac
Short for Sacajawea dollar.
sandwich coin
Nickname for clad coins that were first made in the United States in 1965. Because these coins have a center layer that is of a different material than the top and bottom, they resemble a sandwich.
SBA
Shorthand for Susan B. Anthony dollar.
scr
Shorthand for scratch.
scrip
Paper currency, usually of denominations less than one dollar, issued as substitutes for currency by private persons or organizations.
sea salvage coin
A coin retrieved from the ocean, usually from a ship wreck, and which may have pitted surfaces caused by exposure to sand.
series
Coins of the same major design and denomination, including every combination of date and mintmark minted, e.g., Morgan dollars.
SHQ
Statehood Quarters.
(See state quarters.)
SheldonScale
A numerical grading system ranging from 1 to 70, created by Dr. William H. Sheldon to denote proportional values of large cents minted from 1793 to 1814 and subsequently adapted as a general grading scale.
shinplaster
Canadian fractional banknotes.
shotgun rolls
Rolls of coins that contain double the normal number of coins in a roll. Their length makes them look like a shotgun barrel.
shroff mark
Indian term for chop mark.
sightseen
Available for examination to a potential buyer before a purchase decision is made.
sightunseen
Not available for examination to a potential buyer before a purchase decision is made, as is usually the case with mail order transactions.
silvercertificate
A note (paper money) once redeemable for its face value in silver.
silver clad
A clad coin with one layer containing silver, such as U.S. halves struck from 1965 to 1970.
silvercoin
A coin consisting of more than 50% silver content.
silvereagle
A coin produced by the U.S. Mint beginning in 1986 containing one ounce of silver and having a nominal face value of $1 (not released for circulation).
slab
A coin certified by a professional grading service as authentic and encapsulated in a sealed, hard plastic holder also containing a label; the service’s opinion of its grade and other information.
slider
A coin with very slight traces of wear, such that it almost passes for a specimen that has never been circulated.
sp
Shorthand for specimen.
specie
Precious metal used to back money, usually gold or silver.
spl
Shorthand for semi-prooflike.
splitgrade
Different grades for a coin’s obverse and reverse sides.
spot
- Short for spot price; 2. A small area of corrosion or foreign substance.
spotprice
The market price for immediate delivery of a commodity, such as a precious metal.
spread
The difference between buy and sell prices on the same item(s) of a dealer, broker, etc. The extent of separation between the impressions on a doubled die.
spurious
A false piece made to deceive, often an original creation rather than a copy of a known item.
state quarters
U.S. quarters that feature different U.S. states and minted between 1999 and 2008.
steel cent
Refers to pennies made in 1943 and 1944 that were struck from steel and coated in zinc.
steelie
(See steel cent.)
stella
A U.S. gold coin pattern with a face value of $4, minted in 1879 and 1880.
storecard
A token bearing a business name and/or address, and often intended as a local or ad hoc medium of exchange.
striations
Incuse marks caused by rolling bars while creating planchets.
strike
The process of impressing the design from a die into a planchet to make a coin, token or medal; the completeness of detail (as in weak strike, full strike, etc.) created during this process.
strikedoubling
(See machine doubling.)
sweating
Illegal practice of using an acid solution to remove precious metal content from a coin and then re-circulating the sweated (and lighter, pitted) coin.
– T –
tab toning
Refers to commemorative coins stored in round-tabbed cardboard holders which resulted in toned coins with a round center.
tail
The reverse or backside of a coin.
target toning
Term used for coins with rings of coloring that fade toward the centering, creating the effect of an archery target.
tetradrachma
An ancient Greek silver coin weighing about 13 to 17 grams, roughly the same size as a U.S. quarter but three times thicker.
thaler
German word for dollar, referring to large European silver coins and which is the origin of our word, “dollar.”
third-party grading
Any independent service that provides a coin evaluation, free of bias that could be associated with collectors or dealers.
thumbing
The rubbing of skin oil into a coin in an attempt to hide contact marks.
token
A coin-like object redeemable for a particular product or service, such as transportation on a bus or subway; an unofficial coin issued by a business or town to be used as small change, e.g., in 17th-19th century Britain, and in France in the 20th century.
token coinage
Coinage the intrinsic value of which is less than its face value.
toning
Color acquired from chemical change on the surface.
top die
(See hammer die.)
tradedollar
A U.S. coin with a face value of $1, minted from 1873 through 1885 specifically for commerce in the Orient; a U.S. coin with a face value of $1, minted from 1895 through 1935 specifically for commerce in the Orient.
trime
A U.S. coin with a face value of 3 cents minted in predominantly silver alloys from 1851-1873.
truncation
The sharply cut off bottom edge of a portrait.
tube
A plastic container designed for storing a roll or other quantity of coins of the same sizes.
turkey
Term used for a coin in poor condition that, upon closer examination, is in even a worse state.
typecoin
Any coin of a particular design and denomination, usually one of the more common dates.
typeset
A collection of coins of various designs, but with the same denomination.
– U –
ultra high relief
Alternative of extremely high relief.
ultra rarity
Any coin or related item of which only a few exist.
unc
(See uncirculated.)
uncirculated
Never circulated; without any wear.
undergrading
Unscrupulous practice of assigning a coin a lower grade than merited.
uniface
Showing a design on one side only.
Universal Rarity Scale
A scale that measures degree of rarity. A 10-point, ascending scale (higher number corresponds to increased rarity) that goes from UR1readily available to UR10unique (literally one of a kind).
upsetting mill or upsetting machine
Machine used in coin production to raise the rim on both sides of a blank (planchet).
URS
Short for Universal Rarity Scale.
used
Describes coins of various levels of wear/tear and circulation.
– V –
VAM
Any variety of U.S. silver dollar described in the book Morgan and Peace Dollars by Van Allen and Mallis.
variety
Any coin struck from a die pair that differs from others with the same date and mintmark, such as exhibiting die doubling, different style letters or numerals, or a repunched mintmark.
vectures
Transportation tokens.
vest pocket dealer
Old slang for a person who trades coins but does not have a booth or storefront (typically a part-timer).
VF
Short hand for Very Fine, an ANA grading classification.
VG
ANA grading standard meaning Very Good.
VG08VG
ANA grading standard, very good level 8 to very good.
VG10VG+
ANA grading standard, very good level 10 to very good plus.
vis-à-vis
Coins with heads or busts of two individuals facing each other.
– W –
waffle
Government process used to destroy defective coins. The coins are run through a metal waffling machine that defaces the coin so that it can be used for scrap metal. The term waffle comes from the waffle-like wavy surface left on the metal.
wantlist
A tabulation of collectibles sought by a collector, often including limits on condition and/or price.
war nickel
(See wartime nickel.)
wartime nickel
Five-cent coins minted during World War II with a special metal content so that the metal nickel could be diverted for wartime use.
watermark
A design put into paper at the manufacturing stage by pressing it while wet between rollers bearing the design.
wear
Metal lost during handling and contact with other objects.
wheat back cent
U.S. cent coins minted from 1909 through 1958 that have a wheatstalk design on the underside of the coins.
white cent
(See copper-nickel cents.)
whizzing
Alteration by mechanical polishing to include a shiny surface.
winged liberty
(See mercury dime.)
wire edge
Any coin with a thin, sharp rim that is created when metal flows between a die and a collar during striking.
worldcoins
Coins issued by various nations, as in a collection comprised of such coins.
– X –
XF
ANA grading standard meaning extremely fine.
– Y –
year set
A privately (as opposed to government) packaged coin set consisting of a specimen of each coin from each Mint issued for circulation in a particular year.
– Z –
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